Social activist Medha Patekar arrested in Allahabad

Lucknow: Social activist Medha Patekar was arrested in Allahabad on Saturday, police said.

She was on her way to Kachari village when police tried to prevent her from going ahead, fearing tension in the area. As she refused to abort the plan, senior police officials arrested her and took her to the police lines.

Patkar was going to attend an event in the village on death anniversary of a social activist Banwari Lal Sharma and was later also due to meet families of some people arrested for opposing the land acquisition in the area.

District Magistrate of Allahabad Sanjay Kumar on Friday night had urged the social activist to cancel her visit, as prohibitory orders were in place there.

Patkar was detained at the guest house at Allahabad university. But she was arrested as she began to move towards a rally venue and staged a sit-in.

Patkar is demanding immediate release of people arrested for opposing land acquisition by the government authorities in that area.